Vehicle-spring.



5.1. BREWSTER.

- VEHICLE SPRING. APPLICATION man sEPT.9.191.

LNPTVTOR.

Efoeelef zlrmfer S wm l ATTORNEY,

Patented M1125, 1919.

ETHELBERT J'. BREWSTER, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

Application filed September 9, 1918.

To all whom it may conce/m Be it known that I, E'rrrnnnna'r J. BREW- STER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Fresno, in the county of Fresno, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application. I

This invention relates to improvements 1n vehicle springs and particularlyto that type known as semi-elliptic or full-elliptic used on motor vehicles.

rlhe principal object of the invention is to provide such main spring with a supplemental spring which will only be brought into play when the vehicle is carrying a heavy load or when subjected toa sudden shock or bump which tends to flatten out the main spring momentarily. In this vlatter case, the secondary or supplemental spring acts as a shock absorber'.

A further object of the invention is to build up the main spring in such a manner as to enable it to better withstand sudden shocks or jolts than one built in the usual manner.

A still further object of the device is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects, I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of the parts as will fully appear by a perusal ofthe following specification and claim.

On the drawings, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved spring showing the same in normal position, z'. c., with the vehicle on which it is mounted empty.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the spring when flattened under the influence of a great weight or heavy shock.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on a line 3-3 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the figures of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the lower main spring and 2 the upper spring of the ellipse. The lower main spring 1 consists of a top leaf 3 whose ends terminate in loops or eyes to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

Serial No. 253,298.

form the hinging or connecting meanswith the upper spring 2, a second leaf 4 slightly shorter than the leaf 3, a third leaf 5 slightly shorter than the leaf 4, and whose ends terminate in loops or eyes to receive a bolt 6 therethrough. An inverted U clamp 7 straddles the three leaves at this point, and is held in position by the bolt 6 which passes through the sides thereof.

A fourth leaf 8, somewhat shorter than the leaf 5, is provided with looped ends and has a bolt 9 and clamp 10 similar to the clamp 7 The bolt 9 is longer than is necessary to merely pass through the sides of the clamp for the purpose as will appear. A fifth leaf 1l extends a short distance on either side of the central vehicle clamp l2.

The supplemental spring 13 mounted to the main spring 1 above the same is constructed and connected as follows:

A leaf 14: of a length about that of the lleaf 4 is positioned adjacent the leaf 3, resting thereupon near the center' and also upon the clamp 7 when the spring 13 is at rest. A second leaf 15 is superimposed on the leaf 14, but is shorter than the same, and has its ends terminating in eyes or loops 1G through each of which passes a bolt 17 having straps 1S depending therefrom, which straps straddle the clamp 10. These straps are provided with elongated orifices or slots 19 adapted to slidably receive the bolt 9 therethrough, the normal position of the bolt being at the upper end of the slot. Suitable washers 20 maintain the spaced relation of the clamps, straps'and spring leaves.

Inverted U-clamps 2l hold the leaves of the supplemental spring in position on the main spring 1 and are connected thereto by means of the bolts 22 passing through the terminating eyes of the leaf 11 of the main spring.

The upper main spring has its longest leaf 23 suitably hinged in connection with the leaf 3 of the lower spring as hereinbefore stated, some of the remaining leaves being placed above such leaf in the usual manner and some below the same, the shortest of such latter' leaves having looped ends and clamps 24. connected therewith to hold all the leaves in fixed relation to each other.

lVith this construction, I do not increase the weight or number of leaves of the spring, which will have the same carrying `capacity as springs etmstructed in the ordinary manner, but I do increase its ability to with- Vdownmost position. When an excessive load or shock is thrownon the main spring, such spring is thereby caused to assume a flattened-position, as shown 1n Fig. 2. This causes the bolts 9 to move downward in theV slots 19V till such bolts bear against the bottom of the slots. Should the flattening of the main spring still continue, the bolts 9 then pull down on the straps and tension is thro-wn on the leavesV of the supplemental spring, Vthus bringing into play such spring and'causing the same to assume and absorb some of the load. Should the flattening of the spring be caused by a sudden shock or jolt, the sudden bringing into play ofthe supplemental spring will'cause the same to act as a shock absorber.

VThus, from the foregoing description it will readily be seen that I'have producedi such a device as substantially fulfils the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

Whilethis specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice, such deviations from such detail may be resorted t0 as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim. Y y

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A vehicle spring comprising a main spring, ya supplemental spring adjacent to and above the same, clamps near theV center thereof connecting the main and Vsupplemental springs, transverse bolts on the main spring in alinement with the ends of the supplemental spring, and straps vpivotally l ETHELBERT J. BREVSTER.

Witnesses: Y

BERNARD PRIVAT, FRANK H. CARTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. Y 

